Field markers



Dec, 6, 1955 o. WATMOUGH 2,725,814

FIELD MARKERS Filed Nov. 16, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VE N 70/? 5 Oliver h di'hzouy/l W MM Dec. 6, 1955 O WATMOUGH I 2,725,814

FIELD MARKERS Filed Nov. 16, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v VEN T05 Oliver Mzifmouy/z United States Patent FmLn MARKERS @liver Watmough, Lethbridge, Aiberta, Canada Application November 16, 1951,. Serial No. 256,788

1 cream. (Cl. 97-228 My invention relates to new anduseful improvements in field markers, particularly in field markers of the class described and claimed in my United States Patent No. 2,511,521, which issued on June 13, 1950,. an object of my invention being to provide a device of the character herewithin described which includes a flexible towing means which is adjustable and which: at the same time, limits and controls the distance of the marker from the towing vehicle.

An object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which may be used with either two or three discs dependingv upon circumstances, it sometimes being desirable to use a third disc as a guiding element or stabilizer, the rearward disc of the three acting as a rudder.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which a towing tongue is adjustable as to angle.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which incorporates what I define as a tumble resister thereby preventing the marker from over-turning on rough ground.

A yet further object of my invention is toprovide a device of the character herewithin describedwhich is simple in operation, economical in construction, and otherwise well suited for the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become appparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my device.

Figure 2 is a perspective enlarged fragmentary detail of the pivotal attachment area of the draft arm to the main frame.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective fragmentary view of the connection of the draft arm to the draft tongue.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the adjustable disc bearing blocks.

Figure 5 is a perspective fragmentary view of my device viewed from the side remote from the towing means.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of my cable blocks.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of my device shown in con junction with a towing means;

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the. different figures.

Proceeding now to describe my invention in detail, it will be seen upon reference to Figures 1, 5 and 7 of the drawings that my field marker collectively designated 1 includes a substantially elongated horizontal beam 2 having a combination draft tongue and outboard supporting component collectively designated 3 secured thereto together with a pair of guiding and supporting discs 4 and 5 and a ground marking disc collectively designated 6.

More specifically my beam 2 comprises a pair of angle irons 7 and 8 maintained in parallel spaced relationship one above the other as will hereinafter be described. In the drawings accompanying this application I have shown a pair of guiding and supporting means identified by the reference characters 4 and 5 together with a ground marking means identified 6. However, it is to be understood that, if desired, the front means 4 may be replaced by the ground marking means 6 thus forming what might be defined a two-point suspension for the device. Nevertheless, it is sometimes desirable to utilize all three components under conditions of rough and heavy soil under which circumstances, therea'r supporting means 5 gives additional support to the device thus assisting in stabilization thereof as well as acting as a rudder to maintain the desired direction. against the side draft initiated by the ground marking disc 6.

The guiding and supporting means 4 and 5 each comprise a planar disc 9 secured centrally to a stub axle 10 which is journalled for rotation within a bearing block collectively designated 11 and shown in detail in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

This bearing block comprises a Wooden block 12 of substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration banded by a pair of plates 13 for strengthening purposes. A bore 14 extends longitudinally through. the block 12 and receives for rotation the aforementioned axle 10, a split or cotter pin (not illustrated) passing through the outer end of the axle in order to retain same within the bearing block 11.

Reference to to Figure 4 of the drawings will show a pair of vertical bores 15 within the upper plate 13 and it is to be understood that these bores pass clear through the block 11 and also through. the lower plate 13 and receive bolts 15 which clamp the plate to the blocks. Also forwardly of these bores is an: elongated slot 16 also passing clear through the upper and lower plates 13 of the block Ill, this slot being provided to receive a clamping bolt 16' for which reference should be made to Figure 1. When assembled, the bearing block passes between the upper and lower angle irons 7 and 8 of the beam 2 and is clamped in position. by means of the bolt 16' which also passes through the upper and lower angle irons and can be tightened to retain the bearing. block and disc in the desired relationship to the beam 2. In this connection, it will be appreciated that the slot 16 permits the disc to be moved inwardly or outwardlywith respect to the beam and also permits limited angular adjustment of the plane of the disc to the longitudinal axis of the beam should this be required. The angular adjustment is limited by means of a further bolt 16" which passes through the beam 2 just rearwardly of the bearing block. assembly.

Turning now to a description of the ground marking means. 6, this preferably takes the form of a concaveconvex disc 17 mounted centrally upon a spindle 18 which, in turn, is journalled for rotation within a bearing block assembly similar to that hereinbefore described and. identified collectively by the reference character 11,

My "combination draft tongue and outboard supporting component collectively designated. 3 is best illustrated in Figures 1 and 5 and comprises a tubular member 19 angulated as at 20 at the forward end thereof and terminating at the outboard end 21 thereof in a right-angularly and upwardly curved end22 which acts as an outboard support for the assembly shouldsame tip outwardly as well as forming a. trailing skid should same touch the ground while in operation.

This tube is pivotally connected between the upper and lower angle irons 7 and 8 of the beam 2 as illustrated in Figure l and to add stabilization to this point of connection, I have provided a relatively short length of tube 23 secured in parallel relationship to the main tube 19 by means of a rectangular plate 24 which is welded to both tubes. A bore 25 extends downwardly through the plate to receive a pivot bolt 26 which also extends through the beam 2 as clearly shown in Figure l.

Angular adjustment of the tube 19 with relation to the longitudinal axis of the beam 2 is provided by means of an adjustable diagonal strut 27 which is secured at its rearward end to the beam 2 by means of a bolt 28. The forward end 29 of the strut is bolted to a U-clamp bracket 30 which embraces the tube 19 and is slidable therealong within limits thus permitting the aforesaid angular adjustment. When positioned correctly, the clamp 30 may be clamped in position about the tube 19 by means of a bolt 30'.

A further U-clamp 31 is provided around tube 19 slid able along the length thereof to act as a counterweight balance in the stabilization of the device.

The inner end 20 of the tube 19 receives the draft tongue component 32 which, in this embodiment, takes the form of an elongated wooden beam. The connection between the beam and the tube is occasioned by means of a connecting bracket collectively designated 33 and shown in detail in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings. This bracket comprises a relatively short length of channel iron 34 having a rod 35 welded within the channel and extending therefrom, said rod being receivable within the tube 19 and maintained in position by means of a bolt 35'. The draft tongue component 32 may then be bolted to the channel 34 in nested relationship thereto.

Before passing on to a description of my cable attachment means reference should be made to Figures 1 and 7 of the drawings which illustrate what I define as a tumble resister. This is a means to resist the tendency of rearing or tipping backwards inherent in this type of implement, due to rough or uneven ground and reduces considerably this fault. The tumble resister 36 comprises an elongated beam secured between the angle irons 7 and 8 of the main beam 2 by means of bolts 36' and extending rearwardly for a considerable distance beyond the rear end 37 of the main beam 2. As this beam is well behind the rearmost disc 5, any tendency of the device to rear backwardly due to rough ground or the like, is resisted by the extremity 38 of the beam 36 striking the ground.

Reference should now be made to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings which illustrates my cable attachment means collectively designated 39. This includes a cable 40 extending from an anchor point 41 forwardly on the towing means 42. This cable extends rearwardly and outwardly from the towing means 42 and passes through a guiding loop 43 secured to the outer extremity 44 of the draft tongue component 32. The cable then passes around a sheave assembly 45 secured to the draft tongue component just forwardly of the point of attachment thereof to the tube 19. After passing around this sheave assembly, the cable extends through the rear of the towing means 42 and passes around a further sheave assembly 46 terminating in a weighted end 47 which normally drags upon the ground.

In order to control the position of my device from the towing means, I have provided a pair of adjustable stops 48, details of which are shown in Figure 6. These stops, in this embodiment, comprise spheres 49 drilled diametrically so that they may be slid along the cable 40 and left in position upon the cable by means of set screws 50. From contemplation of Figure 7, it will be appreciated that these spheres will not pass around the sheave assemblies 45 and 46 an, therefore, definitely limit the accurate positioning of my device from the towing means.

In the event of a left turn (with relation to Figure 7) being made by the towing means, any slackness which would normally develop within cables 40 is prevented by the weighted end 47 dragging upon the ground thereby preventing any danger of the cable being snagged by the wheels of the towing assembly.

In operation, the discs 4, 5, and 6 are positioned either in tandem or in parallel relationship as desired and the angularity of the ground marking disc 6 is set as hereinbefore described.

The angle of the combined draft tongue and outboard supporting component 19 is set by means of the sliding brace 27 and the aforementioned cable stops 48 are positioned along the cable 40 depending upon the distance it is desired to mark from the towing means.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

A field marker adapted to be drawn by a towing means comprising in combination a substantially elongated hori Zontal beam, said beam consisting of a pair of vertically spaced and parallel angle irons, guiding and supporting means mounted upon said beam and lying substantially parallel to said beam, said guiding and supporting means consisting of a pair of planar discs, one adjacent each end of said beam, bearing blocks mounting said discs for rotation, said bearing blocks being selectively clamped between said angle irons and serving also as spacers therefor, ground marking means mounted on said beam between said planar discs, said ground marking means consisting of a concave-convex disc, a bearing block between said angle irons mounting said concavo-convex disc for rotation and also serving as a spacer for said angle irons, a combination draft tongue and outboard supporting component selectively clamped between said angle irons in adjustable angular relationship to said beam, said component extending upon each side of said beam, said component consisting of a tubular member pivotally attached adjacent the centre of said beam, one end of said component being angulated substantially at right angles to said component and being curved upwardly and adapted to act as an outboard support, the opposite end of said component on the other side of said beam adapted to act as a draft tongue, a braceextending from said beam to one side of said component, and an adjustably slidable clamp surrounding said component at the point of attachment of said brace to said component, and a tumble resistor secured to and extending rearwardly from the rear end of said beam, said tumble resistor adapted to engage the ground when the front end of said beam is elevated from said ground.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 15,649 Lawrence July 10, 1923 476,684 Pichno June 7, 1892 820,635 Fox May 15, 1906 1,078,741 McRae Nov. 18, 1913 1,372,396 Blackburn Mar. 22, 1921 1,728,098 Bork Sept. 10, 1929 1,857,484 Stroburg et al. May 10, 1932 2,511,521 Watmough June 13, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 509,325 Germany Oct. 8, 1930 525,041 France May 26, 1921 

